Is it impossible to find a good flat in August?
Posted by Lik3smok3@reddit | askhungary | View on Reddit | 6 comments
Sziasztok everyone! So, I posted this question on an expat Facebook page and was a little concerned with the feedback I got and wanted to get a local perspective.
I’ll be moving to Budapest the last week of July and plan to stay in an Air B&B until I find an apartment. A few people on Facebook told me that I will have an impossible time finding a flat in August and that all the good options are taken in early July. Is that true? I can’t get to Budapest any earlier than I already am and I’m starting to stress about not finding a good fit before I start my job in mid-August.
For context, I’m looking for a two bedroom in a lively district. I’m a 28 y/o American girl and like to be out and about. I’m not too picky about location but I need to be near a tram that can get me to the outskirts of District II for work. I’ve been seeing lots of good options posted on Ingatlan and Facebook but they are all current vacancies and I don’t want to agree to anything sight unseen.
I’m open to any and all advice and/or suggestions! Thanks in advance 🙏🏼
GlassTop2046@reddit
You will always find. My tentant will move out 1sf of August for example. I dont really stress about it. Season is more 1 sf of September. In general it is never that difficult to find a flat in budapest, netherland, france, germany than here
chx_@reddit
Impossible? Nah. Expensive? Depends.
If money is less of a concern then just grab the first place you can find near Széll Kálmán square, few Hungarians would want to afford that. It shouldn't take more than a few hours to find something in this case.
Otherwise your conditions as laid out are indeed problematic: the trams that go out to Hűvösvölgy are 56,56A,59B,61. None of these do not cross to Pest instead they cover some expensive parts of Buda except maybe 56 which at the other end of reaches some factory poured concrete building blocks in the 11th district. That can be cheaper but lively? That? Nah. Sure
The more money conscious instead would transfer at Széll Kálmán tér and use the underground to get there. Astoria would be my focus point, there's no end of cheap flats there and it's basically the party district. It's seven minutes for the underground to get across so calculate with 15 minutes for the whole journey.
Kobakocka@reddit
If you have money, you can find a flat at any time. Only the cheapest is a challenge. But if you have +100€/month budget than the average Hungarian uni students, your chances are significantly better.
v1k70rk4@reddit
Hey, local here. Don't stress about it, whoever told you it's "impossible" to find a flat in August is seriously exaggerating. Budapest is not London or Amsterdam. Apartments go up year-round, people move out, couples break up, expats leave, there's always turnover. The real crunch comes in September when university students flood the market, so late July / early August is actually a decent window.
That said, the nice two-bedrooms in good locations do get snapped up fast, but that's true any time of year. The key is to move quickly once you're here, if you like a place, go see it the same day and decide on the spot.
A few tips:
- ingatlan.com is the main listing site, biggest selection by far. Facebook groups (Budapest Rentals, Flats for Rent Budapest etc.) are fine too, but watch out for scams, if someone asks for a deposit upfront via bank transfer and conveniently "can't show the flat in person" run.
- For your commute to outer District II by tram, I'd focus on Districts V, VI, or XIII. The 4/6 tram takes you to Margit híd, from there the 61 tram covers most of District II. The area around Széll Kálmán tér (District I/II border) is also worth considering, several tram lines head out into District II from there.
- District VII (the party district) is the most "lively" but getting to District II from there by public transport is a bit of a pain. Districts V and VI give you both the nightlife proximity and a much easier commute.
- Your Airbnb plan is solid. 2-3 weeks should be more than enough to find something decent. If you want to speed things up, agencies like Home Solution Budapest specialize in expat rentals, they'll do the legwork for you, though they typically charge one month's rent as a fee.
- When you do find a place: always read the lease (or have someone who speaks Hungarian read it), only hand over the deposit after signing the contract, and pay to a Hungarian bank account.
You'll be fine. Good luck with the move!
Pebble-Sorter-8128@reddit
Try ingatlan.com
Lik3smok3@reddit (OP)
Thank you! That’s one of the websites I’ve been looking at but they aren’t posting places that are available in August just yet.